Bottom outlet grommet mixing valve

ABSTRACT

A single handle mixing faucet comprises a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical sleeve positioned within the housing and a stem reciprocal and rotatable relative to the sleeve. The sleeve discharge port is in its bottom as is the discharge port in the housing. A seal member encloses a portion of the sleeve adjacent the sleeve inlet ports and is in sealing contact with the stem, sleeve and housing. Means are provided within the stem for retarding sudden closure of the stem to prevent &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;water hammer.

United States Patent 1 1 Moen [ BOTTOM OUTLET GROMIVIET MIXING VALVE[76] Inventori Alfred M. Moen,25 Lakeview Drive,

Grafton, Ohio 44044 [22] Filed: May 27, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 147,357

[52] US. Cl. ..137/625.17, 251/51, 251/317,

251/172 [51] Int. Cl ..Fl6k 11/02 [58] Field of Search ..137/625. 17,636.4; 251/148, 151, 152, 314, 316, 317, 51, 52,

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,532,123 10/1970 Anthony.x..251/l72 X 3 548,875 12/ 1970 Lagarelli 137/625. 17

[ Apr. 10, 1973 3,428,087 2/1969 Moen 1 37/625. 17 2,710,736 6/1955Miller ....25 l/52 X 2,864,580 12/1958 Le Moine ..251/3l7 R25,92O11/1965 Moe-n .137/625.l7 X 3,387,631 6/1968 Pecis 137/625. 17

Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Attorney-Parker, Plyer & McEachranABSTRACT A single handle mixing faucet comprises a cylindrical housing,a cylindrical sleeve positioned within the housing and a stem reciprocaland rotatable relative to the sleeve. The sleeve discharge port is inits bottom as is the discharge port in the housing. A seal memberencloses a portion of the sleeve adjacent the sleeve inlet ports and isin sealing contact with the stem, sleeve and housing. Means are providedwithin the stem for retarding sudden closure of the stem to preventwater hammer.

, 13 Claims, 41 Drawing Figures BOTTOM OUTLET GROMMET MIXING VALVESUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements insingle handle mixing faucets and in particular to a mixing faucet havinga sleeve and stem combination in which the discharge is at the bottom ofthe sleeve.

Another purpose is a mixing faucet of the type described including meansfor preventing water hammer.

Another purpose is a mixing valve including a sleeve, a stern reciprocalwithin the sleeve, and a seal member positioned about the sleeve inletports and being in sealing contact with the stem and the housingenclosing the stem and sleeve.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrateddiagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial section through a mixing valve,

FIG. 2 is an axial section through the mixing valve stem and sleeve,

FIG. 3 is an axial section, similar to FIG. 2, showing a modified formof the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a partial axial section showing a further modified form of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 and 2a housing isindicated at 418 and may have a closed bottom 412 and an open end 414.The exterior of the housing is threaded at 416 to receive a retainer nut417 positioned over a key 419. The key 419 is positioned in a slot 444and rotationally locates the valve cartridge described herein. A pair ofhot and cold water inlet ports 418 and 420 are formed in the side of thehousing 410 and there is a discharge port 422 formed in the bottom.

Amixing valve in the form of a valve cartridge is indicated generally at424 and is positioned within the housing 418 with a portion of thecartridge extending outside of the housing. The cartridge 424 is made upessentially of two elements, an outer sleeve 426 and an inner stem 428which is reciprocal and rotatable relative to the sleeve to control thevolume and temperature of water passing from the housing inlets 418 and420 through the housing discharge 422. A handle, not shown, mayconventionally be attached to the outer end of the stem.

The sleeve 426 includes hot and cold water inlet ports 430 and 432 whichare formed in the side of the sleeve and a discharge port 434 which isformed in the bottom in alignment with the housing discharge 422. Waterfrom the inletswill pass inside of the sleeve, into the stem asdescribed hereinafter, and then out of the bottom discharge 434. Theexterior of the sleeve 426 may have a recess 436 adjacent the inletports and a seal 438 may be positioned within the recess. The recess iscircumferential and the seal 438 is generally cylindrical. Above therecess 436 is a groove 440 containing a seal ring 442. The sleeve 426has a cutaway portion 444 and a passage 446 connecting the stem toatmosphere.

The stem 428 has an open bottom and a water inlet 448 which can beplaced into selective communication with the hot and cold water ports438 and 432. The stem 426 is hollow to form a mixing chamber 458, therebeing a passage of reduced size 452 above the mixing chamber 458. Anopening 454 connects the passage of reduced size 452 with a balancechamber 456 formed between the exterior of the stem 428 and the interiorof the sleeve 426. A bracket 458 containing seal rings 468 and 462 sealsthe upper end of the balance chamber. A snap ring 464 holds the bracket458 in position between the stern and sleeve. A seal ring 466 seals thelower end of the balance chamber 456 and is held in position by a pairof snap rings 468 and 478.

A seal 471 positioned in a groove 473 forms a seal between the interiorof the sleeve and exterior of the stem above seal 438 to prevent waterseepage toward opening 446 when the valve is open.

The stem is pressure balanced in that the annular sealing area of O-ring466 is generally equal to the cross section of the entire stem. Thusequal and oppositely-directed water pressure created forces balance thestem in any open or closed position of the valve.

The seal construction 438 is made up of two substantially identicalhalves or parts 472 and 474. Each of the halves include a port sealportion 476 which extends inwardly through the hot and cold water ports438 and 432 and has an inner rim 477 in sealing contact with theexterior of the stem. Each of the seal halves 472 and 474 also have acircular or annular bead 478 which surrounds about the port seal portionwith the exterior of the bead being in sealing contact with the interiorsurface of the housing 418. Opposite ends of the cylindrical halves 472and 474 have circumferentially extending beads 488 which primarilyfunction to position the beads during insertion and removal. Thecylindrical recess in the exterior of the sleeve, indicated at 436, hasupper and lower grooves 482 and 484 which receive inwardly-directedmating projections 486 and 488 on the seal halves 472 and 474 to anchorthe seal halves to the exterior of the sleeve. Thus, both when thesleeve is inserted into the housing and when it is removed, the seal isfirmly anchored onto the exterior of the sleeve and will not bunch up ortear, but will stay in position.

The circular beads 478 are effective to form small pressure chambers 498about each of the port seal areas 476. The water pressure in chamber 498assists in forming the seal by creating an inward pressure or force onthe port seal portions, thus urging them into sealing contact with theexterior of the stern.

A cup-shaped member indicated at 482 has a downwardly-extending stem 484connected to a bar 496. The bar extends across the open ends of both thestem and the sleeve and has an upturned portion 488 stem. Near thebottom of the shaft 582' there is an enlarged area 584 and a seal 586positioned in a groove 508. The seal bears against the interior of thecupshaped member and thus forms a seal between the shaft and thecup-shaped member. A diagonal slot 510 is formed behind the seal ring506 and defines a passage of limited extent between the chamber areabeneath the enlargement 504 and the upper portion of the chamber 500.When the valve is open water will flow into the chamber 500, through thediagonal groove 510 and into the chamber portion below the enlargement504. When the valve is closed and the stem is pushed downwardly, it canonly be moved downwardly as fast as water can escape through diagonalgroove 510 into the upper portion of chamber 500. A rapid closure willtend to expand seal 506 into groove 510 further restricting the passageof water. Thus, the combination of the seal 506 and the diagonal groove510 provides a retarding force preventing rapid closure of the valve. Ithas been found in some plumbing systems that a rapid closure of thevalve not only can make an undesirable noise known as water hammer", butif of sufficient force, can at times burst the pipes. The brake orretarding mechanism or damping mechanism shown prevents rapid closure ofthe stem into the sleeve or rapid closure of the valve.

The valve of FIG. 3 is substantially the same as the of FIGS. 1 and 2and like parts have the same numbers. Seal 520 positioned in a groove522 in the interior of the sleeve performs the same function as seal 471of FIG. 2. It prevents upward seepage of water when the valve is open.The relocation of seal 471 permits the enlargement of the cup-shapedmember 492.

In FIG. 4 only the stem is shown in detail as the other portions of thevalve may be as shown in FIGS. l-3. A stem 530 mounts a cup 532, withthe stern being fixed to the sleeve, for example in the manner shown inFIG.

3. A shaft 534 extends downwardly from the cartridge stem and has anexterior diameter such as to form a close fit with the interior of thecup 532. A seal 536 is positioned in the bottom of cup 532. There is anotch 538 in seal 536 which is in alignment with a passage 540 in thebottom of the cup 532.

In operation, movement of the stem relative to the sleeve is controlledby the rate of water flow through notch 538 and passage 540. If the stemis closed or moved downward at a rapid rate, water pressure withinchamber 542 defined by seal 536 and the bottom of shaft 534 will tend toclose notch 538, further restricting the flow of water. Thus, insomewhat the same manner as described before, closing of the stem iscontrolled to prevent water hammer."

The valve shown operates in much the same manner as the valve shown inmy prior U.S. Pat. No. Re. 25,920. However, in this case the water isdischarged out of the bottom of the sleeve and housing rather thanthrough a side port and thus through a spout. The valve shown may haveapplication in the kitchen, in the lavatory or in a shower-tubcombination. Of importance is the particular seal shown which, in aunitary construction or a construction made of two substantiallyidentical halves, provides a seal between the exterior of the stem, theexterior of the sleeve and the interior of the housing containing thevalve. The water hammer prevention device or the dampening means is alsoimportant, as it prohibits rapid closure of the valve which can be bothundesirable and at times damaging.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and describedherein, it should be realized that there may be many modification,substitutions and alterations thereto.

I claim:

1. In a single handle mixing valve, a housing having hot and cold waterinlet ports and a discharge port, a sleeve in said housing, said sleevehaving an open end forming a water discharge and hot and cold waterinlets in the side thereof in communication with said housing inletports, a hollow stem within the sleeve, inlet and outlet means in saidstem, rotation and reciprocation of said stem relative to said sleevecontrolling the relative positions of said sleeve inlet ports and saidstem inlet means to regulate the volume and temperature of water passingfrom said sleeve inlet ports, through said stem, to said sleeve openend, seal means between the stem and sleeve,

and a cylindrical seal member positioned about the sleeve adjacent thesleeve inlets and having port seal portions extending through the sleeveinlets and in sealing contact with the stern, said cylindrical sealhaving a plurality of sections, there being a port seal portion in eachsection.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including anoutwardly-extending annular bead at opposite ends of the cylindricalseal.

3. The structure of claim 2 further characterized by and including anannular bead positioned about each of said port seal portions, with saidannular beads being in sealing contact with the interior of the housing.

4. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that saidcylindrical seal member is formed of two substantially identical parts,with a port seal portion in each part.

5. The structure of claim 4 further characterized by and including apair of spaced annular grooves in the exterior of said sleeve, and apair of inwardly-directed projections adjacent the ends of said sealmember cylindrical halves, with said projections fitting within saidgrooves to anchor said seal parts upon the exterior of said sleeve.

6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said housingis generally cylindrical in form having a closed end, said dischargeport being formed within said closed end.

7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that a portion ofsaid sleeve and stem extend outside of said housing.

8. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including ashaft positioned within the hollow stem, a cup-shaped member enclosing aportion of the shaft and fixed in relation to the sleeve, a seal aboutsaid shaft and bearing against the interior of said cupshaped portion,and a restricted passage in said shaft adjacent said seal.

9. The structure of claim 8 further characterized in that saidcup-shaped member has a portion extending outside of said stem and incontact with the sleeve.

10. The structure of claim I further characterized by and including ashaft positioned within the hollow stem, a cup-shaped member enclosing aportion of said shaft and fixed in relation to the sleeve, a seal insaid cupshaped member and a restricted water passage between said seal,shaft and cup-shaped member.

11. In a single handle mixing valve, a housing having hot and cold waterinlet ports and a discharge port, a sleeve in said housing, said sleevehaving an open end forming a water discharge, and hot and cold waterinlets in the side thereof in communication with said housing ports, ahollow stem within the sleeve, inlet and outlet means in said stem,rotation and reciprocation of said stem relative to said sleevecontrolling the relative positions of said sleeve inlet ports and saidstem inlet means to regulate the volume and temperature of water passingfrom said sleeve inlet ports, through said stem, to said sleeve openend, seal means between the stem and sleeve and between the sleeve andhousing,

a shaft positioned within the hollow stem, a cupshaped member fixedrelative to the sleeve, positioned within the stem and enclosing aportion of said shaft, said cup-shaped member and shaft defining achamber, a seal within said chamber, and a restricted passage betweensaid chamber and the interior of said stem, closure of the stern intothe sleeve being restricted by the flow of water through said passage.

12. The structure of claim 11 further characterized in that said sealextends about said shaft.

13. The structure of claim 11 further characterized in that said seal ispositioned in the bottom of said cupshaped member.

1. In a single handle mixing valve, a housing having hot and cold waterinlet ports and a discharge port, a sleeve in said housing, said sleevehaving an open end forming a water discharge and hot and cold waterinlets in the side thereof in communication with said housing inletports, a hollow stem within the sleeve, inlet and outlet means in saidstem, rotation and reciprocation of said stem relative to said sleevecontrolling the relative positions of said sleeve inlet ports and saidstem inlet means to regulate the volume and temperature of water passingfrom said sleeve inlet ports, through said stem, to said sleeve openend, seal means between the stem and sleeve, and a cylindrical sealmember positioned about the sleeve adjacent the sleeve inlets and havingport seal portions extending through the sleeve inlets and in sealingcontact with the stem, said cylindrical seal having a plurality ofsections, there being a port seal portion in each section.
 2. ThestructuRe of claim 1 further characterized by and including anoutwardly-extending annular bead at opposite ends of the cylindricalseal.
 3. The structure of claim 2 further characterized by and includingan annular bead positioned about each of said port seal portions, withsaid annular beads being in sealing contact with the interior of thehousing.
 4. The structure of claim 3 further characterized in that saidcylindrical seal member is formed of two substantially identical parts,with a port seal portion in each part.
 5. The structure of claim 4further characterized by and including a pair of spaced annular groovesin the exterior of said sleeve, and a pair of inwardly-directedprojections adjacent the ends of said seal member cylindrical halves,with said projections fitting within said grooves to anchor said sealparts upon the exterior of said sleeve.
 6. The structure of claim 1further characterized in that said housing is generally cylindrical inform having a closed end, said discharge port being formed within saidclosed end.
 7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that aportion of said sleeve and stem extend outside of said housing.
 8. Thestructure of claim 1 further characterized by and including a shaftpositioned within the hollow stem, a cup-shaped member enclosing aportion of the shaft and fixed in relation to the sleeve, a seal aboutsaid shaft and bearing against the interior of said cup-shaped portion,and a restricted passage in said shaft adjacent said seal.
 9. Thestructure of claim 8 further characterized in that said cup-shapedmember has a portion extending outside of said stem and in contact withthe sleeve.
 10. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by andincluding a shaft positioned within the hollow stem, a cup-shaped memberenclosing a portion of said shaft and fixed in relation to the sleeve, aseal in said cup-shaped member and a restricted water passage betweensaid seal, shaft and cup-shaped member.
 11. In a single handle mixingvalve, a housing having hot and cold water inlet ports and a dischargeport, a sleeve in said housing, said sleeve having an open end forming awater discharge, and hot and cold water inlets in the side thereof incommunication with said housing ports, a hollow stem within the sleeve,inlet and outlet means in said stem, rotation and reciprocation of saidstem relative to said sleeve controlling the relative positions of saidsleeve inlet ports and said stem inlet means to regulate the volume andtemperature of water passing from said sleeve inlet ports, through saidstem, to said sleeve open end, seal means between the stem and sleeveand between the sleeve and housing, a shaft positioned within the hollowstem, a cup-shaped member fixed relative to the sleeve, positionedwithin the stem and enclosing a portion of said shaft, said cup-shapedmember and shaft defining a chamber, a seal within said chamber, and arestricted passage between said chamber and the interior of said stem,closure of the stem into the sleeve being restricted by the flow ofwater through said passage.
 12. The structure of claim 11 furthercharacterized in that said seal extends about said shaft.
 13. Thestructure of claim 11 further characterized in that said seal ispositioned in the bottom of said cup-shaped member.